Credit based telephony service facilitation

Abstract

Advertisement consumption activities of a user are monitored. The user is credited with telephony service credits in accordance with observed advertisement consumption activities. In turn, telephony service for the user is facilitated. The facilitation is based at least in part on the amount of telephony service credits credited to the user.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method comprising: 
       monitoring advertisement consumption activities of a user;  
       crediting said user with telephony service credits in accordance with observed advertisement consumption activities; and  
       facilitating telephony service for said user based at least in part on said telephony service credits credited to said user, said facilitating further comprising informing the user of the amount of telephony service credits available by causing a meter-like icon depicting the amount of telephony service credits available to be rendered.  
     
     
       2. A method comprising: 
       monitoring advertisement consumption activities of a user;  
       crediting said user with telephony service credits in accordance with observed advertisement consumption activities;  
       facilitating telephony service for said user based at least in part on said telephony service credits credited to said user, said facilitating further comprising informing the user of the amount of telephony service credits available and dynamically updating the user in real time on the amount of telephony service credits available.  
     
     
       3. The method of claim  2 , wherein said dynamic updating comprises causing a meter-like icon depicting the amount of telephony service credits available to be refreshed. 
     
     
       4. A method comprising: 
       monitoring advertisement consumption activities of a user;  
       crediting said user with telephony service credits in accordance with observed advertisement consumption activities; and  
       facilitating telephony service for said user based at least in part on said telephony service credits credited to said user, wherein said facilitation further comprises determining whether the user is a pay subscriber when the user exhausted his telephony service credits.  
     
     
       5. A method comprising: 
       receiving a report on advertisement consumption activities of a user;  
       crediting the user with telephony service credits in accordance with the reported advertisement consumption activities; and  
       facilitating telephony service for said user based at least in part on the telephony service credits credited to said user, said facilitating further comprising informing the user of the amount of telephony service credits available by causing a meter-like icon depicting the amount of telephony service credits available to be rendered for the user.  
     
     
       6. A method comprising: 
       receiving a report on advertisement consumption activities of a user;  
       crediting the user with telephony service credits in accordance with the reported advertisement consumption activities; and  
       facilitating telephony service for said user based at least in part on the telephony service credits credited to said user, said facilitating further comprising informing the user of the amount of telephony service credits available and dynamically updating the user in real time on the amount of telephony service credits available.  
     
     
       7. The method of claim  6 , wherein said dynamic updating comprises causing a meter-like icon depicting the amount of telephony service credits available to be refreshed. 
     
     
       8. A method comprising: 
       receiving a report on advertisement consumption activities of a user;  
       crediting the user with telephony service credits in accordance with the reported advertisement consumption activities; and  
       facilitating telephony service for said user based at least in part on the telephony service credits credited to said user, wherein said facilitation further comprises determining whether the user is a pay subscriber when the user exhausted his telephony service credits.  
     
     
       9. An apparatus comprising: 
       a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions designed to receive a report on advertisement consumption activities of a user, to credit the user with telephony service credit in accordance with the reported advertisement consumption activities, as well as to facilitate telephony service for said user based at least in part on the telephony service credit credited to said user wherein said programming instructions are designed to cause a meter-like icon depicting the amount of telephony service credits available to be rendered to inform the user of the amount of telephony service credits available; and  
       at least one processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the programming instructions.  
     
     
       10. An apparatus comprising: 
       a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions designed to receive a report on advertisement consumption activities of a user, to credit the user with telephony service credit in accordance with the reported advertisement consumption activities, as well as to facilitate telephony service for said user based at least in part on the telephony service credit credited to said user, wherein said programming instructions are designed to inform the user of the amount of telephony service credits available, and dynamically update the user in real time on the amount of telephony service credits available; and  
       at least one processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the programming instructions.  
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim  10 , wherein said programming instructions are designed to cause a meter-like icon depicting the amount of telephony service credits available to be refreshed. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus comprising: 
       a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions designed to receive a report on advertisement consumption activities of a user, to credit the user with telephony service credit in accordance with the reported advertisement consumption activities, as well as to facilitate telephony service for said user based at least in part on the telephony service credit credited to said user, wherein said programming instructions are further designed to determine whether the user is a pay subscriber when the user exhausted his telephony service credits; and  
       at least one processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the programming instructions.